Combined cigar lighter and advertising device



Apfia l5 192 5:, 1,49@,Z3 J. L. swam-41 COMBINED CIG AR LIGHTER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed May 5 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n1 T i A rromvEx April 15 1924. 1,490,236 J. L. SMITH COMBINED CIGAR LIGHTER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1922 2 SheetsSheet 2 wig-.5-

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xl sm INVENTOR In um m-mul lllllifl A TTOR/VE) Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

JOSEPH L. SMITH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO S URE CIGAR LIGHTER COM- PANY, TING, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINED CIGAR LIGHTER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed May 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and

I a resident of the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Combined Cigar Lighter and Advertising Device, of which the following is a. full, clear,-and exact description.

My invention relates in general to advertising devices, and in particular to a device which is illuminated by the operation of an electrically ignited cigar lighter which forms a part of the device.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide an advertising device having glass windows bearing advertisements which are periodically illuminated.

Another object has been to provide an electrically operated cigar lighter for my device which shall be simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and economical in operation.

Another object has been to provide means for constantly illuminating the interior of the device during the period of operation of the cigar lighter.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my complete device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken,

on line 2-2 of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. i is a plan view of my device with the casing removed.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical connections of my device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

My device comprises a hollow base 10 and a casing 11. The base is provided preferably with two cross-pieces 12 and 12 and the casing 11 is preferably fitted to the base and held in position by dowel pins 13. The base 10 and the casing 11 are each formed of open framework, whereby a plurality of windows are provided. The framework is preferably provided with grooves, as shown in Fig. 6, for the' reception of pieces of glass 14:, which may carry advertisements. The glasses are preferably held in place by means of clips 15 and screws 16. The top of the casing 11 is preferably conical in shape, and

1922. Serial No. 558,215.

also is provided with windows in which glass may be fitted. A display card or advertisement 1? may be carried at the top of the casing. Mounted in the base are two electric bulbs 18 and 19, which are carried by suitable socket-s secured to the base. These bulbs are connected in parallel and to a theri'nostatic device 20 which causes an intermittent lighting of the bulbs, whereby the advertisements carried by the device will be intermittently illuminated. static device 20 gets its supply of current from any siutable source, as, for instance, the leads 21.

The cigar lighter of my device comprises a torch 25 in which some suitable volatile fluid is carried, such, for instance, as alcohol or gasoline. The torch is provided with a contracted neck 26, in which a wick 27 is disposed. The torch is mounted upon a shaft 28 which is preferably arranged at one side of the torch, whereby it will be maintained in its normal position by gravity. The shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 29, carried by the cross-pieces 12 and 12 of the base. An operating knob 30, having a stem 31 is secured to the upper end of the torch on the same side as the shaft 28. This knob and stem pass through suitable openings formed in the conical top of the casing 11, and provide means for oscillating the torch 25. A filler opening 32 is provided at the upper side of the torch and has a removable cap, whereby the liquid in the torch may be replenished. Carried by the base of the torch, and projecting rearwardly from the side of the torch opposite the shaft 28 is a stop arm 33. This arm is movable in a yoke 34, whiohcarries a stop screw 35, whereby the movement of the torch may be adjusted and limited. The stop 36 for the downward movement of the arm is preferably carried by the spark coil 37, mounted in the base of the device. A coil spring 38 is shown attached to the end of the stop arm 33, for returning the torch to its normal position. This spring is not essential since the pivotal mounting of the torch is such as to bring it to its normal position by gravity. The spring may, however, be used if desired.

Carried by the cross-pieces 12 and 12 are two standards 39 and 10, respectively. The standard 39 carries near its upper end a switch 22, comprising two switch members The thermo Ill) iii

41 and 42. The standard 40 carries at its upper end a switch 23, comprising two switch members 43 and 44. A switch blade is engageable with the switch members 41 and 42, and a switch blade 46 is engageable with the switch members 43 and 44. These blades are carried by a cross member 47, which is attached to the torch 25, whereby the circuits controlled by the switches 22 and 23 will be opened and closed as the torch is oscillated. Each of the blades 45 and 46 is preferably of insulating material, and carries a metallic contact plate 48. The lengths of the knife blades and the contact plates 48 are such, that in the normal position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the circuits controlled by the switches will be open. \Vhen, however, the torch is moved forwardly, the contact plates 48 will make electrical contact with their respective switch members and thereby close the circuits controlled by the switches. Each of the contact mem bers 41, 42, 43, and 44, are provided with suitable binding posts to which thecircuit terminals are secured, as hereinafter described.

The spark coil 37 is of the usual type, having preferably the customary vibrator and condenser. A variable resistance 50 is provided, and is preferably carried in the base of the device. This may be in the form having a rheostat control, as shown, or it may be of the type having a number of taps to any one of which connection may be made. The purpose of this resistance is to make it possible to use the device on commercial power lines having different voltages. A spark electrode 51 is carried by the top of the casing 11, and mounted in an insulating tube 52. The electrode 51 is bent downwardly as shown in Fig. 2, and is in the path of travel of the upper edge of the neck 26 of the torch. The torch is, of course, insulated from the other parts of the device, and this is accomplished preferably by having the shaft 28 mounted in bushings of insulating material. A lead 53 is attached to the shaft 28 or some other con nected part, so that the'high tension current from the spark coil will pass through the torch 25. v tween the upper edge of the neck 26 of the torch and the electrode 51 when the torch is moved outwardly and these parts are brought into proximity with each other. During this operation, the switch members controlling the supply of current to the coil, are, of course, connected by the switch arm 47.

Arranged at the front of the device and mounted on top of the spark coil is an electric bulb 55, which is disposed in such a position that it will brightly illuminate the advertisements while the torch is being operated or held in its extended position. The

A spark will thereby occur bebulb 55 is arranged in a circuit, to be here inafter described, and is illuminated when this circuit is closed by means of the switch blade 46, when the torch is operated. The switch blade 46, with its contact plate 48, and co-acting switch members 43 and 44, are so proportioned that the circuit controlling the supply of current to the bulb 55 will be closed, and the bulb, therefore, illu1ninated during the entire period of operation of the torch, or during the time that the torch is held in its extended position by the operator.

A metallic plate or extinguisher 56 is carried on the under side of the peak of the conical top of the casing, and immediately over the extended end of the wick 27, whereby the flame of ,the torch will be extinguished as the torch moves to its normal position.

Referring now to Fig. 5 where I show, in diagramnrati-cal manner, the electric connections and circuits of my device, it will be seen that current is supplied to the device from any suitable source of supply over the leads 21. One side of the line is connected to the terminal 57 of the spark coil and to the groimd connection 53 on the torch by means of leads 58, 59, and 60. The other side of the line is connected to the contact 61 of the spark coil and in series with the variable resistance or rheostat 50 and the switch members 41 and 42 of the switch 22 by means of leads 62, 63, and 64. The spark contact 65 of the spark coil, is connected by means of the lead 66 to the spark electrode 51.

The lighting circuit is so arranged that current from the leads 21 will pass through the thermostatic device 20 and be supplied by this device to the intermittently illuminated bulbs 18 and 19, which are connected in parallel. The electric bulb 55 is supplied by current coming from the leads 21 over conductors 6'7, 68, 69, and the switch members 43 and 44 of the switch 23.

From the foregoing, it will be clearthat when current is supplied by the leads 21 to the thermostatic device 20, the electric bulbs 18 and 19 will be intermittently illuminated, which intermittent illumination will attract attention. When the device is operatedthe knob 30 will be drawn forwardly, which will cause the switches 22 and 23 to be operated, whereby the spark coil circuit will be energized, thus producing a high tension current in the high tension circuit, and thereby causing the torch to be ignited. The closing of the switch 23 will cause current to pass through the electric bulb 55, and thus constantly illuminate the same during the operation of the device. As the torch moves back to its normal position, the flame will be extinguished by the extinguisher 56.

Obviously, some modifications of the dek the casing, the shaft being secured to the lower end of the torch and at one side thereof, and means controlled by the operation of the torch for illuminating the casing.

2. An advertising device comprising a casing having translucent walls bearing advertisements, a torch mounted within the casing, a pivotally mounted shaft within the casing, the shaft being secured to the lower end of the torch and at one side thereof, means for adjustably limiting the movement of the torch, and means controlled by the operation of the torch for illuminating the casing.

An advertising device comprising a casing having translucent Walls bearing advertisements, a torch mounted within the casing, a pivotally mounted shaft within the casing, the shaft being secured to the lower end of the torch and at one side thereof,

resilient means for returning the torch to its normal position, and means controlled by the operation of the torch for illuminating the casing.

An advertising device comprising a casing having translucent walls bearing advertisements, a torch mounted within the casing, a pivotally mounted shaft within the casing, the shaft being secured to the lower end of the torch and at one side thereof, means for adjustably limiting the movement of the torch, resilient means for returning the torch to itsnormal position, and means controlled by the operation of the torch for illuminating the casing.

5. An advertising device, comprising a casing having translucent walls bearing advertisements, a torch mounted within the casing, a pivotally mounted shaft within the casing, the shaft being secured to the lower end of the torch and at one side thereof, standards carried by the base of the device, a switch mounted upon each standard, switch blades carried by the torch and engageable with the switches, and means controlled by the operation of the torch for illuminating the casing.

6. An advertising device comprising a casing having translucent walls bearing advertisements, a torch mounted within the casing, a pivotally mounted shaft within the casing, the shaft being secured to the lower signed my name.

JOSEPH L. SMITH. 

